A corporal in the Latvian armed forces has been injured in a traffic accident near Kirkuk, Iraq. He is the first soldier from the small Latvian contigent to be hurt while serving in Iraq.

The corporal was injured Aug. 10 on a military base at Kirkuk, according to an announcement from the Latvian Ministry of Defense in Rīga. The injuries were described as slight.

The soldier was treated for his injuries and then transferred to the 47th Combat Support Hospital in Kuwait. He was expected to return to Latvia on Aug. 18.

The traffic accident is under investigation.

A total of 38 Latvian troops, including six unexploded munitions experts, were deployed to Iraq in May. Another 105, mostly infantry, were deployed this month, according to the Ministry of Defense.